Dirty clothes need washing, but who realistically has time to put a load on immediately? That’s why keeping your laundry basket fresh can be a challenge if you don’t have the right features in yours.
This plastic, easy-to-wipe and ventilated $16 Amazon laundry hamper with wheels is just the ticket for simple sanitation, so in between holding your laundry, it doesn’t build up bacteria and unpleasant smells.
Doing your laundry when you have time is one thing, but keeping the hamper clean is another, and doing so will stop any sweaty, dirty clothing from causing a stink.
Ventilated designs are great at keeping your laundry basket fresh
This sturdy 30 gallon plastic laundry basket will stay fresh with ease, as it has ventilation holes all over, and no lid to trap in moisture. Dirty laundry can be a breeding ground for bacteria so allowing air to circulate will help banish smells.
You can wipe down the inside and outside with a microfiber cloth and an anti-bacterial spray to sanitize it weekly, or in between loads. You can also make a hot soapy mixture with Dawn Dish Soap, available at Walmart.
Professional cleaners say putting your gym or workout clothes straight in the basket is a mistake, as the moisture, sweat, and bacteria is the perfect breeding ground for germs. However, with this plastic, lidless, ventilated hamper, you can drape them over the top, allowing them to dry fulling before placing them inside later.
The same goes for washing towels – make sure they are dry before putting them in the laundry basket, as they will quickly get smelly.
This particular Amazon design also has a handy lift-up handle and wheels to make movement of your load easier, as 30 gallons of washing isn’t going to feel exactly light or easy to transport otherwise.
It has four designs on the listing, including one with a lid if that’s what you prefer. Happy shoppers rave about it being great for small spaces, sending off their adult children to college with one, or using it to bring shopping in from the car, speaking to its versatility.
Battling odors well is just one string to its bow, with one verified shopper, Daymara, rating it five stars, adding, ‘I bought this laundry hamper and I loved it! It’s lightweight, sturdy, and has great capacity for everyday dirty clothes. The ventilated design helps prevent odors by allowing air to flow through.’
What to shop
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
Enjoy the ventilation, pop-up handles, wheels, and a lid with this version of the plastic laundry basket to conceal the top of the pile from view with ease.
If you like the concept but want something more discreet, this compartmentalized hamper has ventilated inner bags that can be removed for easy transport to your washer.
You can remove and machine wash the inner liner in this hamper, making it easy to keep your laundry basket fresh and clean. It’s 110 liters, which works out to about one and a half loads of the average 8-9 lb washer drum.
I swear by these microfiber cloths for cleaning all over my home. They wash brilliantly and last hundreds of rounds of laundering. Skip the fabric softener, however, as that will coat the tiny fibers and stop them from absorbing well.
Cleaning with vinegar is a brilliant, eco-friendly, and sustainable way to clean at home, and professional cleaners agree that you don’t need harsh chemicals to clean well. Leave a 1:1 ratio of vinegar water spray on the surface for at least 30 seconds to allow it to properly sanitize before wiping.
If you have an item that’s gone a bit musty from sitting in a closet for a few months, a spritz of Febreeze is surprisingly effective for a quick refresh. Its odor-busting technology wicks away smells as it dries, so allow it to do so fully.
If you enjoy keeping fit at home, these are the essential post-workout cleaning tasks to do after each session to keep your home gym sanitized. Similarly, if you love to cook, professional cleaners recommend these kitchen jobs to keep your meals tasting their best
